LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's golf team plays its final tournament of the fall this week as the Tritons travel to Hawai'i for the Pearl at Kalauoa Invitational.
The 54-hole event, hosted by the University of Hawai'i, features 36 holes on Wednesday, November. 4, and 18 holes on Thursday, November. 5. Both days will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii time at the Pearl at Kalauoa in 'Aiea, O'ahu.
This will be UC San Diego's second appearance at the Pearl. In 2025, the team finished second in the 18-squad field at 10-under par. Senior
Nathan Tseng won his first collegiate tournament, also shooting 10-under to top the 108-player contingent.
Final results from last year's tournament can be found
here.
Six Tritons will be playing. Representing the team will be
Ethan Lien,
Cole Kim,
Hanjie Yu, Jerry Zsu, and
Justin Gill.
Branden Wong will be playing as an individual and his scores will not figure into the team's score. Lien has been UC San Diego's top finisher in two of three tournaments so far this season.
There are three teams in the field that are ranked among the top 100 in the country including Loyola Marymoung (59), West Virginia (83), and Augusta State (89).
Joining UC San Diego from the Big West will be Cal State Fullerton, Hawai'i, and UC Riverside.
All three rounds can be followed with
live scoring.
THE COURSE
Pearl at Kalauoa
98-535 Kaonohi Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,955
COMPETING TEAMS (national ranking)
• Air Force (197)
• Army (263)
• Augusta State (89)
• Butler (109)
• Cal State Fullerton (149)
• East Texas A&M (213)
• Hawai'i (210)
• Hawai'i Pacific (NR)
• Loyola Marymount (59)
• Middle Tennessee (153)
• Northern Colorado (154)
• Prairie View A&M (291)
• St. John's (151)
• UC Riverside (267)
• UC San Diego (216)
• UT Arlington (162)
• West Virginia (83)
• Wofford (150)
TRITON LINEUP
1:
Ethan Lien, sophomore, 72.7 stroke average
2:
Cole Kim, freshman, 73.3 stroke average
3:
Hanjie Yu, sophomore, 74.4 stroke average
4:
Jerry Zhu, freshman, 75.7 stroke average
5:
Justin Gill, senior, 74.0 stroke average
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Independent:
Branden Wong, freshman, 79.3 stroke average
2026-27 UC SAN DIEGO FINISHES
•
Visit Stockton Invitational: 13th of 18 teams, +16
•
Falcon Invitational: 14th of 18 teams, +16
•
Ram Masters Invitational: 11th of 16 teams, +33
2026-27 TOP TRITON FINISHERS
•
Visit Stockton Invitational:
Ethan Lien, 32nd of 99, +3
•
Falcon Invitational:
Ethan Lien, 21st of 90, -1
•
Ram Masters Invitational:
Jerry Zhu, 24th of 92, +6
2025-26 UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (4)
•
Justin Gill (Sr.)
•
Ethan Lien (So.)
•
Austin Woods (RS-Fr.)
•
Hanjie Yu (So.)
Newcomers (3)
•
Cole Kim (Fr.)
•
Branden Wong (Fr.)
•
Jerry Zhu (Fr.)
Lost (5)
•
Francis Catalano
•
Leo Cheng
•
Calvin Kong
•
Davis McDowell
•
Nathan Tseng
WHY THE TRITONS
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became UC San Diego's mascot in 1964.
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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
UP NEXT
Following the tournament in Hawai'i, UC San Diego won't play again until 2027. First up will be a new event for the Tritons, the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. The University of Wyoming is hosting and it's set for February 22-24 at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
